Amazon is set to acquire iRobot, the maker of the Roomba robotic vacuum, in a deal that will likely expand the exposure of the home appliance.
The all-cash transaction is valued at about $1.7 billion with the customary closing conditions including shareholders and regulatory approvals.
Amazon said the deal will allow customers to reinvent how they clean, and the robotic vacuums are now smart enough to avoid many common obstacles in the home and can automatically empty the collection bin.
The Roomba is one of the better known brands when it comes to robotic vacuums and was one of the original home appliances when the market first took off and will now be part of Amazon’s ever-growing smart home and smart appliance portfolio.
“Over many years, the iRobot team has proven its ability to reinvent how people clean with products that are incredibly practical and inventive,” said Dave Limp, senior VP of Amazon Devices.
The goal is to make consumers’ lives easier by taking away a chore that a robot can do and do fairly well, Amazon said.
Much like other smart home and home appliance acquisitions made by Amazon — including Ring smart doorbells — the company will likely be able to promote and put at the forefront of its e-commerce stores the robotic vacuums to drum up sales and support.
